Category Archives: Uncategorized

5 Sentence Friday

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  1. When we argue and/or complain we are showing our “me attitudes”.
  2. Our light is dimmed by our perverse choices.
  3. As children of the King, we are held to a higher standard.
  4. This world is so perverse (warped) Believers will stand out.
  5. Complaining and arguing are sins.

As I worked through the five sentences I was once again convicted of my own sin.  As modern Christians we tend not to see arguing, complaining, grumbling… as sins. Discontent is evident everywhere. In our homes, our jobs, our churches, relationships,… someone is always complaining about something.

It doesn’t have to be that way.  We can (and must) make a conscious choice to stop the animosity.  Both the Old and the New Testament tell us to love our neighbors.  (see Luke 10:27 and  Leviticus 19:18) Are we being loving when we’re constantly complaining about something or someone?  I think not!  Make the right choice.  Quit complaining.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Airship Genesis – Kids Study Bible – Book Review

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As a retired teacher, I am always interested in what’s new in kids books.  When this came to my attention I was delighted to review it.  I’ve long respected David Jeremiah and knew something having his name on it would be quality material. I was not disappointed.

Clicking on the picture will take you to Amazon.com. I receive no remuneration for your purchase.

I also asked several children in my local church to look through it, read some of it and tell me what they thought.  Those in the 12 to 14 age bracket liked it but found it too juvenile for their tastes.  Those in the 8 to 12 age bracket loved it.  Loved the pictures and extra stories.  However, they found the actual scripture (NKJV) difficult.  Having a website they could go to for more information was very appealing to them.  All in all their review was very positive.

As I scanned through, reading my favorite books for flavor and concept I found some great ideas that could even be used in an adult study Bible.

  • New Testament concepts and teachings were embedded in the Old Testament.
  • Print size is great for kids.  Not to small.  Not to large.
  • Useful information at just the right point, in eye-catching color, that gets the readers attention and enhances the message.
  • Memory verses, useful for life application, were highlighted in red.

Choosing the NKJV for this Bible may keep some young readers from even trying.  The NKJV is written at an average 7th-grade reading level.  Children at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade levels, the recommended group, find upper reading levels difficult to read and process.

Except for the choice of translations, I found this Bible a true delight.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson and BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Delight!

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In the course of my lifelong search for what Love really is God has given many examples of it.  We recently had guests for lunch and their youngest son was totally enamored with our black cat’s choice of sleeping/hiding places.  He (the cat in the picture above) loves to be totally covered up under quilts, blankets, pillows…actually under anything.  We would pull back the throw, that the cat was sleeping under, and all Isaiah could see was two green eyes peering back and he would laugh that delighted two-year-old laugh.  I could hear God in that laugh and knew that He was once again giving me a personal glimpse of Him through a child’s delighted laugh.

Psalm 149:4 tells us the LORD takes great delight in us.  He shows us how much He loves us in the many things around us.  Like a child’s delighted laugh, hummingbirds at the feeders, the shapes and colors of nature, people who model His many attributes, and… Watch for the LORD’s delighted love.  It’s everywhere!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

This is a reblog from a post on August 11, 2011. 

Where She Belongs – – Book Review

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51mf2fndxilAll of us have had situations in our lives that make us want to walk away or start over or go back to a better place.  Often when we choose the latter we also have to face the memories that go along with it.  This delightful story of a lovely young widow encompasses a critically injured child…falling for the wrong guy…unknown (unremembered) circumstances from teenage years… life choices based on past experiences… a really crabby villain…

Things I liked about this story

  • The characters enter at just the right point to make the reader wonder what they have to do with the story.
  • Just the right amount of good and bad situations.
  • Bible verses interjected at just the right point

Great book for that summer afternoon, school break reading list.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

5 Ways To Improve Any Relationship

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I often think about being the best wife, friend, teacher, worker… I can be.  Perhaps I can do more, be more, give more… Certainly all of the above but there are some very practical, down to earth ways we can show those around us they matter most.

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I believe the #1 way to improve friendship is to take yourself out of the running for 1st Place.  Narcissism destroys more relationships that any other personal characteristic.  Anytime we think we matter more, in any way, than the person we’re relating with ruins any chance of building up the other person.  Jesus said it best when He said, ‘love others’ in response to what is the greatest commandment.

Steven Covey, in his book First Things First, makes it clear that we must know the wants and needs of the other person to become successful.  In our relationships, we really need to know what another likes or dislikes.  Remember anything we might think is fun may not be enjoyable to someone else.  Get to know your friends, husbands, co-workers.  Talk to them.  Discover their hobbies and interests.  The best relationships take the desires of the other into account first.

When you’re building friendships and relationships don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.  If it’s more than one-sided the other person is just as interested in you.  If your friend says let’s go see a dirt bike race and you really can’t stand the dust then tell them.  Remember, if your friend is truly interested in creating an awesome relationship they’ll find someone else to go with and both of you will discover something about the other.

That leads us to trust.  If a friend chooses to do something with another person do not put a guilt trip on them.  Building relationships with other people adds more to the friendships you already have.  Learning to trust others is a huge growth issue.  One does not need to know everything that their friend is doing every moment to build a strong relationship.

kindness-710209_960_720Last, but certainly not least, choose kindness.  In Aesop’s fable, The Lion and the Mouse, the moral is, a kindness is never wasted.  Perhaps something you’ve done in the past will lead to its reward in the future.  True kindness, like love, is based on wanting what is best for the other person.

 

Sometimes, when I read a list like this, I think I have to do everything.  Not so!  Even choosing one of these suggestions will make you a standout, awesome friend.  Go for it!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie